मत

Negative Commands

Level 1Sounds Like mata

Put मत right before a command to tell someone not to do something.

How It Works

To tell someone not to do something, put मत before the command. The command keeps the form that fits the person you are talking to.

मत is only for commands. To say that someone does not do something, use नहीं: वह यहाँ नहीं बैठता (He doesn't sit here).

A few other patterns are common:

For emphasis, मत can follow the verb: जाओ मत! (Don't go!)
With the -ना form, मत gives a friendly warning for later: भूलना मत (Don't forget).
For a softer polite request, use न instead of मत: चिंता न कीजिए (Please don't worry).
Signs and notices use न with the -एँ form: यहाँ धूम्रपान न करें (No smoking here).

यहाँ मत बैठो।
Don't sit here.
मत before a तुम command.
यहाँ मत बैठिए।
Please don't sit here.
मत before a polite आप command.
चिंता मत कीजिए।
Please don't worry.
कीजिए keeps its special polite form after मत.
दरवाज़ा मत खोलो।
Don't open the door.
मत goes right before the verb, after the object.
देर न कीजिए।
Please don't be late.
न instead of मत makes a polite request sound softer.

Using नहीं in a command.
यहाँ नहीं बैठो।
यहाँ मत बैठो।
Commands take मत (or न). नहीं is for statements.

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

मतLevel 1Negative Commands

A negative command is an ordinary command with मत.

मतन

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